Pliers



Sept. 16 1924. 1,508,510

C. S. EDWARDS PLIERS Filed March 17. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 il a A INVENTQR q H 7 6, 907%; ffan dra'.

I ,1 I (55 434; f 1 51 5:5 ATTORNEY enema Sept. 16, 19 4.

PLIEBS.

Application filed March 17, 1928. Serial No, 825,793.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Prineville, in the county of Crook and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pliers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention resides in the provision of an improved form of pliers of that particular type wherein is embodied means for adjusting the range of action of the cooperating jaw members and for moving the said jaws toward or from each other in parallel relation.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved construction of pliers of .the general type stated in which the parts are especially designed, in a simple and compact manner, for exerting a great leverage power upon the cooperating jaws, for permitting quick and simple adjustment of the parts to provide for effectively increasing or diminishing the degree of action of the cooperative jaws thereof, to adapt them for special kinds of work, as conditions may require, and for permitting-the ready disassembly, substitution of broken or worn parts, and reassembly of said parts as may be desired.

'With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, my invention embodies those novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described in the following detailed description, then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in'which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved pliers, parts being broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the main body portion of the pliers.

Figure 3 is a detail side elevation of the movable jaw and the arm cooperative therewith and being shown in cooperative relation.

Figure 4 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line i4-on Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan View of the parts shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the fulcrum support.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the movable jaw.

Figures 8 and 9 are detail side elevations illustrating modified forms of fulcrum holders and spring elements for holding the same to their proper position.

Figures 10 and 11 are detail views, edge and side elevations respectively, of the modified form of holder shown in Figures 8 and 9.

Figure 12 is a side elevation ofaa modified form of pliers.

Figure 13 is a plan view of the main body portion of the said modified form of pliers.

Figure 14 is a detail side elevation of the modified form of movable jaw and the arm cooperative therewith and being shown in cooperative relation.

Figure 15 is a detail plan View of the parts shown in Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a central longitudinal section through the head portion of the modified form of pliers, and illustrates the parts as positioned for permitting an adjustment of the jaws thereof.

Figure 17 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line 17-17 on Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a detail perspective view of the modified form of fulcrum member.

Figure 19 is a detail central longitudinal section showing a rack and sector between the movable jaw and the movable handle.

In the practical development of my invention I provide a main body 1 including a handle portion 2 and a solid stationary jaw 3. The main body portion 1 is provided with a vertical bore 4 forming a guideway and the said body has the main portion thereof-cut out as at 5 to form a proper bearing portion for the actuating lever, hereinafter referred to, and the said cut out portion merges with the bore 4 and passes through the said bore forwardly to provide a vertical restricted guidcway 6. Each cheek or side portion of the main body 1, formed by the cutout portion 5, is provided with a vertical slotway 7 and, in the preferred form of the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 11, inclusive, the fore face of the said slotway 7 is provided with notches 8.

Cooperative with the stationary jaw .3 of the body 1 is a movable jaw member 9 and the said jaw member includes, rearwardly thereof, an approximately semi-circular bearing portion 10 adapted tobe guided in the vertical bore 4 of the main body portion, and a reduced web lloonnecting the main portion of the movable jaw member 9 with the bearing portion 10 thereof, and the said reduced web is adapted to be guided in the vertical guideway 6 cooperative with the said vertical bore a. The rear face of the ortion 10 of"the movable jaw is pro vide ,with a cross groove 12 and the saidposits side portions or ears 1?, a cross portill till) tion 18 joining said cars 17 and cross apertures 19,-cooperates with a rm pin 20 in formin the proper fulcruming of the actuating %ever 15. When the parts are operatively assembled the fulcrum supporting member is adapted to' straddle the inner end 141 of the lever so that the cross member 18 thereof straddles the said lever ortion, and one of each of the ears 17 lies at each side of the said lever portion with the apertures 19 thereof in re ister with the aperture 18 of the said ever.

With the parts in the position last mentioned, the fulcrum pin 20 passes through the ears 17 and the aperture 16 of the lever end it and the parts are held to this position by the head portion of the fulcrum pin 20 and the fiat nut 21, see Figures '1, 4t and 6. v

Each ear 1? is provided with a forwardly extended stout finger 22 and a heel portion 23. The finger portions 22 are adapted to cooperate with the notches 8 of the slotways 7, hereinbefore mentioned, to hold the fulc supporting member to the particular one of its many possible adjustments, while the heel portion 23 aids in providing a back stop for the said fulcrum su porting member against the action of. the stout coil spring 26 mounted between or cooperative with the apertured ear 24; of the lever portion 141 and the aperture 25 of the cross portion 18 of the fulcrum supporting member.

By reference to Figures 1, 3 and 8 it will be readily apparent that by oscillating the lever 15 upon its fulcrum pin 20 coopera tive with the lever portion '2 the movable jaw 9 will be moved toward or from the stationary jaw portion 3, as the case may be, in parallel relation to provide for the proper clamping of the object being worked upon. lit will also be apparent from the said figures that by moving the fingers 22 out of engagement with the particular slot in which they, at that time, were held by the action of the spring 28, and by moving the fulcr member and the .lever bodily along the slotway? in the desired direction, varied adjustments of the relative positioning of the jaws 3 and 9 may be made, and

In Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 is illustrated certainmodified forms of the fulcrum supporting member. In these modified forms the construction is exactly the same as in the preferred form except that the upper cross member 18 is omitted and the finger portions 22 of the ears 1? are joined by a cross member 28. In the form shown in Figure 8, a modified fo of sprin is illustrated for holding the projected ZHI. 22 to proper engagement with the notches 8 and in this form the spring is in the nature of a piece of sprin wire 29 coiled about the fulcrum pin 20 an having a portion thereof engaging the under side of the lever portion 14: and another portion for engaging the under side of the fingers 22, as shown in said figure. In Figure 9 is illustrated a still further modification of spring element in whichqa wire spring 30 is coiled about the fulcrum pin 20 with one portion thereof enga ing the under side of the fingers 22 and another portion thereof engaging the rear face of the vertical slotways 7 as illustrated.

ln Figures 12 to 17, inclusive, is illustrated a modified form of my improved pliers in which ll provide a main orbody portion 31 having an extended handle portion 32 and a stationary jaw portion 33. The main body portion 31 is provided at 34 with a vertical bearing forming bore and the said body portion is cut out as at 35 to provide proper bearing for the movable jaw actuating lever, hereinafter referred to. The cut out portion 35 merges with the vertical bore 34 and passes throu h the said bore to provide a vertical gui' eway 36 and each of the opposite cheek portions of the main body portion 31, formed by reason of the cut out portion 35, is provided with a vertical slotway composed of a plurality of circular portions 37 all of which are in communication through the The finger projections ecting the adjustment above mentioned.

medium of the straight slot portions 38, see

flat side portions 41 adapted to cooperate with the straight portions 38 of the vertical slotways in a manner hereinafter described. The fulcrum pin 39 is also provided with an enlarged 'head 42 and with a reduced and threaded portion for accommodating a flat retaining nut 43, see Figure 18.

A movable jaw 44 is provided to cooperate with the stationary jaw 33 formed integral with the main body portion 31 and the said movable jaw 44 is provided rear- Wardly thereof with an approximately semicircular bearing portion 45 adapted to have a vertical bearing relation with the vertical bore 34 and the portions 44 and 45 of the said movable jaw are joined by a reduced web 46 adaptedto be guided in the vertical vguideway 36. The portion 45 of the movable jaw member 44 has the rear face thereof provided with a rack portion 47 adapted to be engaged, for moving the same, by the toothed segments 48 formed on the flattened portion 49 of the jaw actuating lever 50. The portion 49 of the lever 50 is provided with a cross aperture 51 corresponding in shape to the cross sectional area of the fulcrum pin 39 hereinbefore mentioned.

When the parts are assembled as illustrated in Figures 12 and 16 with the movable jaw guided in the vertical bore 34 and guideway 36 and the lever portion 49 of.

the movable jaw actuating lever 50 in co operative relation with the out out portion 35 and with the fulcrum pin 39 projected through'the respective vertical slot portion 37 and the aperture 51 in the said lever and the parts all adjustably secured to such position by the relatively flat nut 43, it will be readily understood that, by oscillation of the lever 50, the cooperating jaws 33 and 44 may move together or apart, in parallel re lation, for effecting the desired gripping of the object. By reference to the said Figure 16, it will be readily apparent that by oscillating the lever 15 to the position shown in that figure so that the flat portions 41 of the fulcrum pin 39 come into register with the straight portions 38 of the vertical slotway, the said actuating lever 50 and the movable jaw 44 may be moved along the vertical slotway to effect the desired adjustment as to capacity of the jaws which is desired.

By reason of forming the parts as shown and described, great leverage is exerted upon the movable jaw member and the said jaw members are moved and guided in a manner for effecting parallel relation of the said jaw and its cooperative stationary jaw at all times and under all adjustments. From Figure 19 it is apparent that a rack and sector connection between the movable jaw and the movable handle is equally applicable in the preferred form of pliers shown in Figure 1. In the arrangement shown in this figure l have provided the movable jaw portion 10 with a rack 52 and the lever end 14 with a toothed sector 53.

In this'application I lay no specific claim to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures '12 to 18 inclusive, as that embodiment in its specific construction constitutes the subject matter of a divisional application.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction, operation and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

What I claim is:

1. In pliers of the class described, a relatively stationary body having a handle portion, a stationary jaw portion, cut out portions for forming guideways, and slotways for forming adjustable fulcrum supports: a movable jaw; a lever for actuating the movable jaw; and means for adjustably pivoting said lever for varying the working capacity of the fixed and movable jaws.

2. In pliers of the class described, a relatively stationary body having a handle portion, a stationary jaw portion, a vertical guide bore, cut out portions merging with and projecting through said bore to form guideways, and slotways for forming adjustable fulcrum supports; a movable jaw; a lever for actuating the movable jaw; and means for adjustably pivoting said lever to provide for variations in the working ca pacity of the fixed and movable jaws,

3. In pliers of the class described, a relatively stationary body having a handle portion, a stationary jaw portion, a vertical guide bore, cut out portions merging with and projecting through said bore to form guideways, and slotways for forming adjustable fulcrum supports; a movable jaw; a lever for actuating the movable jaw; a fulcrum pin passing through said lever; and means for adjustably supporting the fulcrum pin in the before mentioned slotways.

- 4. In a device of the class described comprising the following elements in combination; a relatively stationary body having a handle portion, a stationary jaw, a vertical guide bore, cut out portions merging with and passingthrough the guide bore, and slotways forming adjustable fulcrum supports; a movable jaw guided by the guide bore; an actuating lever; a lever fulcrum; and notch and ratchet mechanism for adjustably supporting the lever fulcrum.

5. As a new article of manufacture class described, pliers comprising a relatively stationary body having a handle portion, a stationary jaw, a'vertical guide bore, cut out portions merging with the guide bore to form a lever guideway and extending through the guide bore to form a jaw of the guideway, and vertical slotways having notches; a movable jaw guided in the vertical bore andjaw guideway; a lever for.

moving said jaw; a fulcrum for the lever; a fulcrum supporting member upon said fulcrum within the vertical slotways and provided with fingers for engagin the notches of said vertical slotwaysan heel portions for engaging said vertical slot-- ways; a spring element for holding the fingers of the fulcrum supporting member in engagement with the notches of the vertical slotway; and means adapted to be finger engaged for releasing said fulcrum support fingers from engagement with'said notches. i

6. lln pliers of the class described, a rela tively stationary body having a handle portion, a stationary jaw portion, cut out portions for forming guideways, and slotways for forming adjustable fulcrum supports; a movable jaw having a cross bearing socket; a lever having a projected finger for engaging the bearing socket of the 'movable aw to move the same; and means for adustably pivoting said lever for varying the working capacity of the fixed and movable aws.

7. In pliers, a body having a handle and having a fixed jaw and a passage, a sliding jaw carried by said body and projecting into said passage, a second handle projected into said passage, said body having a fulcrum slot, a fulcrum pin. in said slot for said second handle, a fulcrum supporting member on body having a fulcrum slot, a fulcrum pin in said slot for said handle, a fulcrum supporting member on said pin, a ra chet and pawl connection between said fulcrum supporting member and said body, and a raclr and gear sector connection between said sliding jaw and said handle, a spring for extending said handle, and means'to pre vent over extension of said handle by said spring.

GHARLES S. EDWARDS. 

